Brooklynsway double tough in Arlington Matron
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – There’s not one but two markers that make Brooklynsway the horse to beat Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Arlington Matron on Saturday. First, she beat Eclipse Award finalist I’m a Chatterbox and subsequent Allaire duPont Distaff winner Ahh Chocolate in winning the Doubledogdare Stakes on April 22 at Keeneland. And second is her return Saturday to Polytrack, over which she earned more than a half-million dollars racing at ages 2 and 3 at Woodbine.
The nine-furlong Matron drew 11 entrants but will go with 10 at most, with Lady Fog Horn to be scratched, trainer Tony Granitz said. The race still appears to come up tougher than many recent editions of the Matron, and Brooklynsway will have to return to her best to win for the second time since she was privately purchased by Naveed Chowhan and turned over to trainer Bernie Flint.
KEY CONTENDERS
Brooklynsway, by Giant Gizmo
Last 3 Beyers: 85-90-82
◗ Came back just two weeks after her Doubledogdare win to contest the La Troienne at Churchill and didn’t run as well. She finished fifth, beaten 9 3/4 lengths by Curalina, who won the race by 7 1/2 lengths.
“That race was very tough, coming back so quick, but my owner lives there, and it was important to them to run on the day,” Flint said.
◗ Brooklynsway is 4-2-2 from 11 Polytrack starts at Woodbine, with most of those races coming in restricted company.
◗ She’s won several times over 1 1/16 miles but is 3-0-0-0 in races longer than that trip.
No Fault of Mine, by Blame
Last 3 Beyers: 89-78-81
◗ The 4-year-old filly is listed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite despite having never won a stakes race. She did finish second in the Minaret at Tampa Bay Downs this year and, even more encouragingly, was second in the Golden Rod at Churchill Downs late in her 2-year-old season.
Both of those races were on dirt, and No Fault of Mine is better on turf and synthetics, with wins in both of her Arlington Polytrack races.
“I think she’s quite competitive on it, and this race sets up good for her as far as timing,” said trainer Chris Block. “She’s here, and she’s ready to go.”
Flipcup, by Milwaukee Brew
Last 3 Beyers: 68-92-78
◗ Five-year-old Bill Mott-trained mare showed her Polytrack chops by winning the Grade 3 Maple Leaf over 1 1/4 miles last season at Woodbine and is 4-1-1 from six synthetic-surface starts.
◗ Makes her first start since December but has fired fresh before.